(Editor’s Note: The following is the third part of the second message series preached by Brother Easton on Prayer. The first message was titled, How to Pray to Change Lives).

It is a fact that even believers have problems and challenges in their lives. Sometimes these seem to be perplexing and overwhelming.

Let me ask you: How do you, as a believer, go about solving those problems and facing those challenges in your life which sometimes seem impossible? This is what we will be dealing with.

In II Chronicles 20:1-30, I believe we can find some truths that will helps us to handle our problems. In fact, we will discover some truths that will help us to solve our problems through prayer. These will be truths you will want to remember because sooner or later there will be a time when you will need the super-natural  power of God to help you solve a problem.

(II Chronicles 20:1-3) “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. (2) Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. (3) And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”

In verse 14, we find that as they stood in the assembly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, and he prophesied what God wanted Jehoshaphat to hear.

Verse 17 gives us part of that prophesy: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

In verse 20, they met the enemy, “…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

And now read verses 29-30, “And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. (30) So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.” (2 Chronicles 20:29-30)

Jehoshaphat was King of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, for about 25 years, and he was a good king. He was a righteous man who tried to bring about a revival of faith in God in the nation. He had an army of about a million men. On this particular occasion, he heard about the armies of the Moabites and the Ammonites coming together to do battle with Judah to drive them out of their land. When he heard this, his first inclination was to be afraid. But notice what he did when he was afraid:

“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3)

I am sure there are some reading this who are facing a crisis in their lives right now. I know without a shadow of a doubt that there are some who will face a challenge in the near future. When these challenges come our way, if we do not pray right, or act right, then our prayers and actions will be in vain. Maybe God let you read this to discover why and how a person can pray about their problems and never get a solution.

If you will study this passage of Scripture with me, and abide by what you learn, I believe you can discover how you can pray and receive a solution to your dilemma. It begins with a question: Am I willing to abide by God’s solution, whatever that solution may be?

So I want us to look at some truths for problem-solving that can be found in this passage of Scripture:

In Part One of this series, the first and second topics were presented as follows: 

A. When You Pray to God About Your Problems, You Need to Understand That He Cares About Your Problems

B. You Need to Pray With The Understanding that God Than Any Problem You Might Have or Face

In Part Two, the third topic was presented:

C. You Need To Pray With The Understanding That Praying To God About Your Problem Is Your First Response, Not Your Last.

In this devotion, Part Three, the fourth and fifth topics are presented for problem-solving from (2 Chro. 1:30).

D. When Problems Come Your Way, Solicit Others to Pray With You:

Look at verse 4, “And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:4).

God has given you a wonderful group of people who will join in asking God to meet your needs in the church. Put your church to work praying for you. Jehoshaphat enlisted the entire nation to pray.

E. When Praying, Trust God To Give You A Solution To Your Problems:

His solution may not be the solution you expected. Most of us, when we come to God with a problem, have a solution in mind. The best way to bring your problem to God is not to assist Him with a solution. We must bring Him the problem believing that He has a solution. God’s solution may come to you in a way you are not expecting. God may choose to speak to you directly; He can and will do that at times. Or God may choose to give you a solution through another person.

Why didn’t God speak directly to Jehoshaphat, and give him the solution? Jehoshaphat was the King. He was a righteous man. He was seeking to lead the people of God in the right way.

God did not choose to speak to him directly. He used a man by the name of Jahaziel. Jahaziel stood in the midst of the congregation; and they all prayed to the Lord for a solution to this tremendous challenge that was before them.

Look at verses 14-15:

“Then upon Jahaziel … came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; (15) And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:14-15)

You may want to write in the margin of your Bible these words: “The problem is not mine but God’s.”

Our first problem comes when we do not come to God with our problems.  Our second one comes when we do not leave our problems.

Verse 17 says, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

Or to say, ‘You don’t need to worry about this problem. Stand firm in your faith. Wait and watch for the solution to your problem. Do not fear or be discouraged. Go out and face your problem, for the Lord is with you.’

Now, if God, Who cares about your every need, is willing to face the problem with you, why on earth do you continue to insist on facing your problems in your own strength?

Look again at what God told them to do in verse 17: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

We all have a tendency to try to help God. Mark it down. God does not need our help. He told Jehoshaphat to let the choir lead the way. When the people of God went into battle praising and trusting Him for the victory, they gained a victory they never had to fight for.

They did not have to worry about the battle because God was already there.